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About

Dr. Edlyn Peña is a Professor of the Education Leadership doctoral program at Cal Lutheran. She is an award-winning researcher who studies ways to support inclusion and communication access for autistic students in the preschool through higher education pipeline. Her edited books, “Communication Alternatives in Autism” (2019) and "Leaders Around Me" (2019), feature prominent autistic individuals who advocate for communication and inclusion rights. As a scholar and Director of the Autism and Communication Center (ACC), Dr. Peña’s service to the autism community has reached international audiences. She leads and offers workshops, professional development, camps, and recreation opportunities for the autism community. In 2025, Dr. Peña became the founding CEO of the Dream Community Center, an inclusive recreation and learning center for neurodivergent teens and adults.

Visit for more information about the Autism and Communication Center.

Education

• Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Southern California
• M.Ed. in Postsecondary Education and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California
• B.A. in Psychology with Highest honors from the University of California at Santa Cruz

Expertise

• Community College and university students on the spectrum
• Inclusion and communication needs of autistic students
• Equitable educational outcomes for college students

Publications

For for information about Dr. Peña's publications, please click on the Curriculum Vitae link.

Grant Funding

For for information about Dr. Peña's grant awards, please click on the Curriculum Vitae link.